We'd like to take this opportunity to congratule Bill Fletcher of Hot Springs, the 2005 Mr. Bass of Arkansas professional angler of the year, who was crowned Thursday prior to the start of this weekend's Mr. Bass of Arkansas Classic Tournament on Lake Dardanelle.

More than 200 weekend anglers competed in seven Mr. Bass of Arkansas pro-am qualifying tournaments held throughout the state from February through September. Fletcher was the angler with the highest total points from the qualifying tournaments. Kenny Holland of Cabot received the amateur division angler of the year title for the third consecutive year.

The Mr. Bass of Arkansas Tournament Trail was founded by Porter Everett in 1974. His son, Ronnie Everett, changed Mr. Bass of Arkansas to a pro-am tournament format and has served as tournament director since 1991.

According to Everett, this year's classic includes three fathers who qualified to fish the Classic who also have sons that qualified: Stan Grizzel and son Stan Jr., Frank Coble and son Kelly, and Jerry Williams and sons Keith and Ryan.

The Mr. Bass of Arkansas tournament has paid out $156,000 to competing anglers during this season. Amateur angler Kyle Glaze, 16, became the youngest fisherman ever to win a Mr. Bass tournament.

The original Mr. Bass of Arkansas classic champion from 1974, Roger Mhoon, returned to competition this year after a 17-year absence. His interest was sparked after being invited to compete in a Champion of Champions tournament Everett arranged in the spring of 2004.

With Mhoon, his 91-year-old father, Daddy Mhoon, became the oldest person to compete in a Mr. Bass of Arkansas tournament. He competed in the last qualifying event at Dardanelle.

With all that history and information, is there any reason why you should not make your way out to Lake Dardanelle State Park today and Sunday to see yet another quality fishing tournament, the anticipation of the weigh-ins, and meet some of the best anglers in Arkansas?